Today’s Cafeteria Stories contribution comes from Dr. Robert Lewis of the El Monte School District in Southern California. Dr. Lewis describes the success that his urban school district has had with involving students in wellness. His district currently has 14 schools with Silver HealthierUS School Challenge awards.
Guest post by Dr. Robert S. Lewis, SNS, Director of Nutrition Services, El Monte City School District (Calif.)
At El Monte City School District, our students are actively involved in setting wellness goals, mentoring others, and participating in taste tests. For the past twenty years or so, the United States has seen a steady rise in childhood obesity and juvenile type 2 diabetes. These are the epidemics of our time. We can solve them. But it will take all of us working together. What does that mean or look like? That means community members will need to become more involved in student wellness efforts at the school level as well as the municipal level.
In my district, our coordinated school health team is led by a teacher; its members include school administrators, parents, medical facility managers, nutritionists, PTA members, coaches, former principals, city representatives, and parks and recreation leaders. We work to create a culture of wellness for the children of our community. Our messaging is the same whether for schools or city properties: every child deserves a healthy environment! I always say it only takes one person to start a movement. Anyone can be a catalyst for change. We all must keep our children's health in mind so that the twenty-first century can be our nation's healthiest one yet.
Getting students actively involved in taste tests, summertime cooking camps, school gardens, and wellness goals helps them internalize lifetime healthy habits. These are all activities that El Monte City School District practices throughout the school year. Students are actively engaged in a culture of wellness. The more students feel engaged in healthy lifestyle choices, the more ownership they will have. Community members who participate in wellness activities are more likely to support wellness initiatives in their town.
My team also works with local grocery stores to promote healthy eating at home as well. Furthermore, we bring local produce farmers and dairy farmers to our schools each year to talk to students about where their food comes from. It is important for students to know how food is grown. Our multi-faceted approach to student wellness is working; kids like it, and we look forward to new, creative ideas in the future.
